raider avatar image

Food - Fish or Meat?

So now that my old fella has turned 12, I was talked into trying him on a Senior Food, well he eats it no problem, but stools are loose and really bad gas! All his life he has been on Nutro Lamb & Rice, yes he had gas then too, doesn't every bully? But not as bad as now... (the Senior food is a Chicken base) so I'm switching back to regular food and giving the Glucosamine/Chron/MSM myself as I have been doing past year anyways (and doing great with it btw). The Senior food basically is for weight management anyways, and he is 48lbs, actually doesn't need to lose any weight, if anything he could use a few pounds, but he is perfect shape! I agreed to it and thought senior food would be better but I dont see any different other than his stools and gas are worse!

My question now is..... anyone have their bullys on a Fish based food and notice less gas as compared to Chicken, Lamb or any meat type?

Thought I would switch brands as well since I'm taking him off the Senior food, not that Nutro is bad, but after plenty research there's alot more better top quality brands out there, Nutro really doesn't make any top brand list (however he has lived to be 12 so must be good!  LOL)

 

Kathy Chester Newman and Jessa's picture

We feed a salmon based food...

and have no gas problems.  Taste of the Wild makes a good one called Pacific Stream, 25% protein.  There are several other including a Costco brand which is a lot cheaper and still a good food.  I don't think the weight loss or senior food provide very good nutrition, it's probably a good idea to put him on the fish and see how he does.  We like TOTW because it's grain free.

kibby5's picture

i use salmon based too...

my old gal Gabby (kelpie mix) is 14 now and we tried to get her on some senior food a year ago... we tried wellness senior dry, and it started to make her itch.. i think we tried also tried a couple of natural balance mixes, but it made her poo weird..

so after doing a bunch of research on how dogs, and especially senior dogs do not need that protien.. i found natures variety salmon and brown rice... its not made specifically for seniors , but my old gal seems to be doing well on it.. plus i feed it to the bully too.

i cant remember much, but i remember that after reading all of the "senior" dry food labels, they lacked other things for the sake of giving low doses of the glucosamine and other supposed senior ingredients... so same as you,i figure i will give her the glucosamine supplements separately.  GOOD luck!

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sincerely, christine

raider's picture

Thanks, yes I don't like the

Thanks, yes I don't like the Senior Food ingredients, as I give him Glucosamine/Chron/MSM anyways seperatley which is better, but as for brands for a Fish based food was looking at Wellness CORE Ocean or ACANA Pacifica.... for meat type maybe Wellness CORE.... One food I was interested in was the Orijen Red however at $80 a bag yikes!!!! Wellness and ACANA just as good quality wise, non grain.... and for less!

Just debating now wether go with a Fish based or meat... mainly for gas, lol.

onslowsmom's picture

mines allergic to chicken

they are all different with what they tolerate.

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Kathy Chester Newman and Jessa's picture

Sometimes the meat based foods are...

too high in protein, so check that out before you try it.  Optimally for our guys the 25% range is good.

raider's picture

well after research and

well after research and stuff, I'm sticking for what works... I fed him lamb & rice for 12 years so why change now, I just thought I would check on the fish based ingredients and see if that helps with the stool/gas... I think it's just the 'chicken' meal that is main ingredient in Nutro Senior that causing it.... just like when I give him dog treats that are chicken based he stinks, LOL..... but went for a more quality brand and chose ACANA (Orijen only has the red meat (no lamb) and Acana/Orijen is exact same ingredients that are put in both foods from same company, just one is 80/20 (Orijen) while other is 60/40 (Acana).... the protein in Acana Grasslands Lamb is 32%..... maybe the more natural ingredients and no fillers will help with his gas, not that Nutro is bad, but for just a bit more price can get way better quality food.

KarenandRocco's picture

If it's not broke -don't fix it I say.-Y change now - if

he's not having problems why change. 

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Rocco "The Bull" Capone